Method for decorating straw hats and the like



Oct. 8, 1935. A. URlwAL METHOD FOR DECORATING STRAW HATS AND THE LIKE '5 Fiied May 7, 1954 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented oct. s, 1935.

IVIETHOD FQR DECORATING STRAW RATS AND THE LIKE Alfons Uriwal, Laredo, Tex., asslgnor to Harvest Hat Co., Laredo, N. Y.

Applieatign May 1, 1934, serai No. '124.345

(Cl. lol-32) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements ina method for decora-ting straw hats and the like.

In the manufacture of hats it is customary 5 that a hat body be pressed between two metal heated dies to Ablock the body. This invention proposes an arrangement to be used in conjunction with the two dies whereby numerous decorative effects may be produced upon the hat without materially adding -to the cost of manuiacture.

More particularly the invention proposes the teaching of a method wherein metal mesh material of a predetermined design is attached upon the operating surfaces of the dies, and thereafter -the dies operated in a conventional fashion to block the hats, and simultaneously impressing the designs of the mesh material upon the hats. The method adapts for a large selection of the positions of the metal mesh on the dies so that the design may be imparted on any portion or all portions of the hat as desired, for example, the design may be imparted upon the brim only, 4the crown only, the under side of the brim only, the under side of the crown only, or any combination of these parts.

The use of matrixes constructed of sea grass or other similar vmaterial which are associated with the blocking dies of a hat to impart designs upon the hat is generally known, but the instant invention differs from such Amatrixes in the fact that its operation is uniform, and inexpensive, matrixes of sea grass and similar material cannot produce uniform results in that they become pressed during use and so the effeet is continuously changing. More than this -they are not durable. The provision of metal mesh is entirely different in the fact that irrespective of the number of times the dies are used with the mesh, the mesh cannot become burn-t or' compressed and will always deliver a uniform design.

' Still further the invention proposes the teaching of a novel arrangement for attaching the etai mesh upon the dies so as to be readily detachable when desired.

Another one of the objects of this invention is the teaching of the construction of the metal mesh so vas to conform with the shape of the die and emciently perform its function.

Still further the invention also contemplates the teaching of steps wherein the several metal meshes maybe used at one time upon the forming dies so as to superimpose their impressions and form relief designs.

.the teaching of methods for decorating hats and Still further the invention also contemplates teaching steps wherein several meshes may be used in succession upon the same hat and thus produce varied designs.

Another one of the objects of this invention is the like which may be carried out at exceptionally low costs.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the, 'objects and advantages thereof, reference will bel had to the following description and accompanying-drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various, novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a ma- 15 teria! part of this disclosure:

' Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a straw hat treated according to this method.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a. die used in the carrying out of decorating of hats accord- 20 ing to this invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a mesh material piece forl association with the die illustrated in Ffig. 1 to engage upon the crown portions thereo Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another piece of mesh material for location upon the brim portions of the die.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of various samples of mesh material so that the method taught 30 by Athis invention-may be better understod.

Fig. 6 is a blank of a piece of mesh material before it is formed into the form illustrated in Fig. 3 for engagement with the die.

Fig. '7 is fragmentary view of different mesh 35 material superimposedso that another step of the process may be understood.

In Fig. l a straw hat is illustrated having a crown portion I0 and a brim portion H. The invention relates to decorating this straw hat 40 so as to have impressed designs upon either the crown or brim portions, on their outer or inner sides, or any combinations of these places. As illustrated in Fig. 1 the crown portionv is formed with a large space mesh impression and the brim portion is formed with a smaller spaced mesh impression, according `to this invention.

vention can be understood without a.` more detailed explanation.

The dies II and I2 are formed with a plurality of pairs of apertures I4 through which small thin wires of copper or brass may be passed for the purpose of attaching mesh material upon the dies as hereinafter further explained, Various designs of mesh material, such as illustrated in Fig. 5 'by reference numerals I5, I8 and I'l may be shaped for, coaction with the dies II and I2 according to this invention. While these samples show diamond shaped mesh of various sizes it should be borne in mind that other designs may be used, for example, squares, ovals, flowers, birds, butterflies, and the like.

The mesh materials are cut and formed so as to produce crown portions I8 and brim portions I9. The brim portions I9 may be cut from a disc of the material. After-being cut to proper size the brim portion I9 should be engaged into the die and the die operated so as to properly shape the material to fit the brim portion of the die. This may be accomplished by engaging the brim portion I9 upon the brim portion of the male die I2 engaging the male die with the female die. The crown portion I8 is formed by first cutting a disc of material 20as illustrated in Fig. 6, then making a radial cut 2l 4in the disc so that the adjacent material on the sides of the cut may overlap. Then the disc 20 is engaged to the dies I2 and I3 and the dies pressed together so as to shape the material into the shape oi' the crown of the hat. 'I'he overlapping portions of the material are then cut oif and the adjacent ends produced by these overlapping materials are soldered together or attached together or in any `other manner secured. In Fig. 3 the connecting ends are illustrated by reference numerals 22.

If it is desired to decorate the outside of the brim II of the hat only, then one ofthe meshes I9 are attached to the operating brim surface of the female die I3. In Fig. 2 the mesh I9 is shown thus attached. Small pieces of copper or brass wire 23 are engaged through the openings I4 and engage the mesh material I9 for the purposes of detachably holding the mesh material in position. The die is then operated in the conventional manner and it will be found that the design of the mesh material I9 is impressed upon the outer side of the brim portion I I.

If it is desired to ornament the outer side of the crown portion I2, then the mesh material I8 is attached upon the operating surface of the crown portion of the female die I3. In Fig. 2 this is indicated by reference numeral I8 denoting a portion of the mesh material. This mesh material is held in position by small Vpieces of copper or brass wire 23 engaging through the apertures I4. Once the mesh material I8 is secured in position upon the die, the die may be operated in conventional manner and it will be found that the design is impressed upon the outer face of the crown.

/The under faces of the brim and crown may also be decorated in a similar fashion, that is, similar mesh portions I9are attached upon the brim portion of the male die I2 by the copper or brass wire 23 and a similar mesh material I8 is attached upon the operating surface of the crown portion of the male die I2 also by wires 23 engaging through the openingsv Il. It should be noted that any combination may be used, that is, the hat decorated on lthe brim only, the crown only, or any of these combinations, on one or both sides.

It is a feature of this invention that regardless of whether the design is impressed on the outer Heretofore it was customary to manufacture dies which were engraved with designs for impressing these designs upon the hat during the blocking operation. This invention is superior to that arrangement in that it was necessary to have six entirely diiferent dies to accomplish the same 'effect possible according to this invention. It would take three dies for decorating either the outer side of the brim, or the outer side of the crown, or the outersides of the brim and crowns, and it would take three additional dies for decorating the under sides of the brim and crown or either one of these selectively. Furthermore the six dies will have one design only which would be operated to decorate the hat with that particular design only. According to this invention since the metal mesh is readily interchangeable and an unlimited variation of designs of meshes can be attached upon one die, and further variations are possible wherein the mesh can be attached to only portions of the die, so that any portion or combination of portions may be ornamented as desired. If a plain pressed hat is desired with no design then all of the meshes can -be quickly removed from the die. 'I'he small openings I4 will not interfere with the plain pressed hat because they are so ,small that such variations will not be noticed upon the hat.

A'die for plain pressing averages approximately $60.00 depending upon the size and weight. A die engraved would increase the cost considerably because generally such designs must be engraved. Furthermore when the designs wear off the die would be useless and it would be necessary that a complete new die be purchased. Whereas according to this invention the meshis merely replaced which is relatively inexpesive` 'I'he hat may be either ladies or mens, of any suitable shape or design and may be finished with enameling, painting and lacquering after the embossing of the combinations, is completed. It will be found that such application of material brings out the figures and designs more plainly. It is important that the enameling, painting or the lacquering be done after the embossing operation since the pressure and heat would affect most of the enamels, paints, and lacquers generally used.

Another feature of this invention resides in the fact that the wiremesh may be used in combinations to produce various combined designs. In Fig. 7 the open mesh I5 is shown engaged over the closed mesh I1. It will be readily understood that a hat pressed by a die provided with a double mesh, as shown in Fig. 'l will be formed with a relief design, that is, the mesh I5 will extend much deeper inwards than the mesh I1.

. According to this embodiment of the invention the wire mesh materials are superimposed and attached upon the forming dies. 'I'hese wire materials may be attached to either or both dies and upon any or all of the operating surfaces thereof. Once attached the dies may be operated in the conventional manner which does not add to the cost of manufacture of the blocking operation, but still the designs will be combinations of two designs.

Another embodiment of this invention is the teaching of a method whereby the designs may be applied in succession so that two designs may be imparted upon one hat body. To accomplish this, provision is made wherein the hat body and the mesh materials may be properly aligned with each other so that the designs register as desired'. For this reason'the female die I3 is provided with a screw 24 threadedly engaged through the top. This screw maybe adjusted so that it extends inwards when desired. The male die I2 is formed with a removable threaded plug `726 aligned with the screw 25. Normally with the screw in its upward position and the plug in position as illustrated in Fig. 2, the die may be operated as if not equipped with these parts, but whenl desired the plug 26 may be remesh material la is attached upon thecrown portion of either die, and properly positioned relative to the screw 25 or the plug opening 26. Then the die is operated in the regular fashion so as to impress the design upon the material of the hat. It is pointed out that the body of the hat will be embossed with a recessed portion formed by the screw 25 engaging into the opening within which the plug 26 is mounted. This guides the proper positioning of the hat body thereafter.` When this operation has been completed then the mesh material I8 is removed and a coacting mesh material substituted in position and properly aligned by guiding of the screw 25 or the plug opening in themale die. Thereafter the die is operated the second time guided by the recess but this second operation must be for a'much shorter period of time so that most of the effect of the first operation remains upon the hat body. The second operation simply supplements and adds to the embossing effect. The recess produced by the screw must next be removed, which Is possible by replacing the plug 26 and reoperating the die upon the hat.

While I have shown and described the pre-4 right is reserved to all changes and modiiications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United 5 States Letters Patent is:

1. A method for decorating a straw hat or the like, consisting of attaching metal mesh of predetermined designs upon the operating surfaces for a forming die, using said forming die in a conventional manner, and substituting other metal meshes of different designs adapted to coact with said original mesh material, and then operating the die again in a conventional manner, provision being made for relatively aligning the mesh materials and the hat body in correct positions vfor each operation, consisting in embossing a recessed portion upon the hat body serving as a guide, and subsequently flattening out the recessed portion.

2. A method for decorating a straw hat or the like, consisting of attaching metal mesh of predetermined designs upon the-operating surfaces for a forming die, using said forming die in a conventional manner, and substituting other metal meshes of diierent designs adapted to coact with said original mesh material, and then operating the die again in a conventional manner, provision being made for relatively aligning the mesh materials and the hat body in correct positions for each operation, consisting in embossing a recessed portion upon the hat body serving as a guide, and subsequently flattening out the recessed portion, by reengagement of the hat in the die in another adjustment of the die. 3. A method for decorating a straw hat or the like, consisting in attaching metal mesh of predetermined designs on the operating surfaces of a forming die, using said forming die in a conventional manner, substituting other meshes of different designs adapted in design to coact with said original mesh material, aligning said lattermentioned mesh on the forming die with relation to the original position of the first-mentioned mesh, and then operating the die again in a conventional manner, said aligning steps being accomplished by embossing a portion of the straw hat with the forming die, and realigning the straw hat with the forming die in relation to the embossed areas after the substitution of the metal meshes.

ALFONS URIWAL. 

